Leverkusen and Newcastle Champions League Fight With Everything On The Line
A Huge Night With Everything at Stake
Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle enter this match separated by just one point, knowing that one win could push them into the Champions League top eight. The pressure is huge, and both teams feel it. Leverkusen arrive after two league defeats and now sit 14 points off the top of the Bundesliga, but Europe has been much kinder to them. They have won two Champions League games in a row and could make club history if they keep another clean sheet. Coach Kasper Hjulmand would be the first Leverkusen manager ever to win three straight European matches without conceding.
The problem is their defence still looks shaky. That 2–7 home disaster against PSG is still remembered, and fans do not know which version of Leverkusen they will see.
Newcastle Travel With Confidence
Newcastle come into Germany with good momentum after a 2–1 win over Burnley. They are unbeaten in four Premier League matches and have seven wins from their last eleven games across all competitions. Their last Champions League outing ended their run of three straight clean-sheet victories, but Eddie Howe’s team still look strong.
Despite losing 1–2 to Marseille in the fifth round, Newcastle have lost only three of their last fourteen European away matches. They know how to survive difficult nights on the road, and this match will test that mentality once again.
First Meetings in 20 Years
These teams have not played each other since the 2002/03 season, when Newcastle won both games 3–1. But times have changed. Newcastle have not beaten a German team in their last three attempts, while Leverkusen have recently enjoyed success against English sides, including a big victory over Manchester City.
What Could Decide the Match
Leverkusen score late, with six of their eight Champions League goals coming after halftime. They also commit very few fouls, which keeps their rhythm smooth. Newcastle’s away games in Europe tend to get wild — both teams have scored in each of their last five. And they still hold a unique record this season: they have not conceded a first-half goal in the Champions League.
Players Who Could Change Everything
Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba plays on the edge, picking up four yellow cards in five Champions League games. Newcastle star Bruno Guimarães enters full of confidence after scoring directly from a corner at the weekend. Leverkusen report no new injuries, while Newcastle remain without Sven Botman.
